Wire-stretcher.



Patented May l5, 1900. T. T. WATSON.

WIRE STRETCHER.

(Application filed Sept, 22, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNrTisn STATES PATENT OFFICE. d

THOMAS T. VATSON, OF PAULKS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF-ONE-llATlF TO ISAAC G. HARDIN, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,651, dated May 15, 1900.

Application filed September ZZ, 1899. Serial No. 731,351. (No model.)

To ctZ wiz/0721, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS T. WATSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Paulks, in the county of Hardin and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Wire- Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wire-stretchers particularly adapted for use 1o upon fence-posts to initially stretch the stringers and to maintain a suilicient tension to prevent sagging.

One object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple device of this character designed to be screwed upon a fence-post and constituting an individual fastener and stretcher for a single stringer or a fastening device common to a pair of stringers extending at right angles from a corner fence-post zo and also forming a stretching device for one of the stringers.

A still further and subordinate object is the utilization of the wire or Stringer securing Wedge as means for locking the stretching tube or drum in its bracket.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of my invention to the corner-post of a fence. Fig. 2 is a sectional View through the fencepost and my stretchers. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of my device detached. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the subject-matter of Fig. 3.

Referring to the numerals of reference designating corresponding parts throughout the several views of the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates a fence-post located at the corner of two fence-rows and provided with a series of openings 2, through which the stringers 3 4o are passed to a number of my stretchers 4.

Each of these fastening and stretching devices comprises abracket composed of a baseplate 5 and a pair of parallel correspondinglyaperturedbearingears G. Through the apertures in these ears is passed a stretching tube or drum 7, having a bearing-collar 8 abutting against the outside face of one of the ears 6 and beyond which is formed a squared wrenched end or lug 9. Intermediate of the 5o ears the tube is provided with diametricallyopposed triangular openings 10, having their bases 1l practically in alinement with the inner faces 0f the ear G, against the outer` face of which the collar S abuts.

The stringers 3 are passed through the 55 openings 2 in the post and through corresponding openings 12 in the plates 5,and their ends are passed through the triangular openings 10 in the tubes 7, where they are secured by wedges 13. The wedges extend beyond 6o the opposite sides of the tubes and serve the dual function of a securing device for the wire ends and a key for securing the tubes in the bracket, as it will be seen that being located at the base of the openings 10 they 65 will bear against the inner face of the contiguous ear 6, and thus serve, in conjunction with the collar 8, to prevent longitudinal movement of the tube Without interfering with its rotation. 7o

Any suitable means may be provided for locking the stretching-tube against rotation; but I prefer to employ a locking-pin 14, passed edgewise through one of the ears 6 and diametrically piercing the tube.

In operation the wire-Stringer having been wedged within the triangular notches 10, the pin la is removed and a wrench is applied to the squared end 9 of the tube. The latter is now rotated until suflicient tension upon the 8o Stringer has been obtained, at which time the locking-pin 14 is replaced. If desired, a series of openings 15 may be provided in the tube for the reception of the locking-pins.

Where it is desired to utilize the device for the purpose of securing the stringers 16, extending at right angles to the stringers 3, they are passed coaxially into the tube, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and their ends are secured in the triangular openings 9o 10 by the wedges 13. In this manner the device constitutes a fastener for both stringers and serves as a stretcher for one without having its operation interfered with by the other.

While the present embodiment of my invention appears to be preferable at this time, I do not desire to limit myself to the structural details illustrated and described, but reserve the right to change, modify, or vary mo them at will within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim isl. In a fence, the combination with a post, and angularly-disposed runner-wires, of a fastener and tightener for the latter, comprising a rotatable member mounted upon the post, receiving the Wires transversely and axially thereof, respectively, and forming a fastener for both wires, and a tightener for the transverse wire.

2. A wire fastener and stretcher, comprising a rotatable tube, having angular apertures, and a Wedge binding Within the latter, carried solely by, and movable with the tube.

3. A Wire fastener and stretcher comprising a bracket, a rotary stretching-tube mounted in the bracket and provided with an angular aperture for the reception of wires and a Wedge constituting means for securing the Wire Within the aperture and having its ends extended beyond the tube and bearing against the bracket to prevent longitudinal movement of the tube, substantially as specified.

. 4. A Wire fastener and stretcher comprising an apertured base-plate and parallel ears, a stretching-tube piercing the ears and provided at one end With a bearing collar and a squared extremity and formed with diametrically-opposed triangular openings, having their bases in alinement with the inner face of one of the ears,a wedge extending through the opening in the stretching-tube and against the inner face of one of the ears, and a locking-pin passed edgewise through an ear and piercing the stretching-tube to lock the latter against rotation, substantially as specified.

5. A Wire fastener and stretcher, comprising an axially-rotatable tube, having lateral openings for receiving angularlydisposed Wires, which extend transversely and axially of the tube, and means for securing the Wires in said openings, the tube forming a fastener for both Wires, and also forming a stretcher for one of the Wires, substantially as specied.

6. The combination with a corner-post, having a transverse opening formed therethrough, and angularly disposed runner- Wires, one of which passes through the opening-in the post, of a bracket secured to the post, and provided with an opening registering with the opening in the post, a rotary tube mounted transversely of the opening in the bracket, and provided with lateral openings, the runner-wire which passes through the opening in the post also passing through the adjacent lateral opening of the tube, the adjacent angularly-disposed wire extending axially within the tube and also engaging one of the transverse openings thereof, a Wedge tting in the respective transverse openings and securing the wires to the tube, and means for rotating the latter, substantially' as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS T. WATSON.

Witnesses:

R. L. BLoUNr, L. C. FoWLEP... 

